Nozzle apparatus



flat 17 1%? E. E. 13mm y NOZZLE APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 munn...

JJm/MW (129%,

f. I l awmmww 5M 4' $7171 1 2/ Oct. 17, 1967 E. E. GEBER.

NOZZLE APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 22, 1965 me'mb, WMQL 0 1 United States Patent 3,347,287 NOZZLE APPARATUS Eugene E. Geber, Rockford. Ill., assignor to Anderson Bros. Mfg. Co., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,707 18 Claims. (Cl. 141105) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for dispensing a striped stream of comestible into containers and having a stationary nozzle with a discharge opening. A composite stream of ice cream and syrup is discharged from the stationary nozzle, and a rotary nozzle adjacent the discharge opening dispenses a plurality of oblique stripes of syrup on the surface of the composite stream.

This invention relates generally to a material dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a nozzle apparatus for dispensing multiple materials such as an ice cream and a syrup.

With the advent of the use of semi-transparent plastics for packaging, the consumer has been able to observe the contents and make his selection based on color and the like. Thus, when dispensing a material comprising a combination such as ice cream and syrup, it is desirable to have a quantity of the syrup adjacent the side of the package to be seen by the consumer.

An important object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved nozzle apparatus for dispensing a stream comprising a multiple of materials, in which the periphery of the stream shows visual evidence of said multiple materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved nozzle apparatus for dispensing a plastic comestible and a syrup in which both are dispensed through a single discharge opening.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved nozzle apparatus for dispensing a stream of plastic comestible and syrup and for applying an oblique strip of syrup to said stream of material.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide an improved nozzle apparatus for dispensing a plastic comestible and a syrup and including a rotary nozzle which is mounted for rotation about the periphery of said stream of material and has a plurality of ports for applying a plurality of oblique stripes on the stream of material as the rotary nozzle is rotated.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved nozzle apparatus in accordance with the above objects and which includes a rotary nozzle which may be readily removed for cleaning and maintenance.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevational view of a material dispensing apparatus incorporating an embodiment of a nozzle apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of thcap-paratus of FIG. 1 and showing a filled container in position beneath the nozzle apparatus and with the container in section to illustrate a typical pattern of the material dispensed;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a rotary nozzle apparatus taken along broken line 33 of FIG, 2 and with a portion broken away to better illustrate the relationship of the parts;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the rotary valve shown in FIG. 2 and taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial front elevational view of another material dispensing apparatus incorporating another embodiment of a nozzle apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the nozzle apparatus shown in FIG. 5 and with a container in position to be filled;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partial front elevational view of an apparatus for injecting a syrup into a plastic comestible being dispensed through the nozzle apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 and illustrating a bottom view of a paddle apparatus for swirling the syrup in the plastic comestible;

FIG. 10 is view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8 and showing multiple orifices of the apparatus for injecttaken along broken ing the syrup into the plastic comestible; and

FIG. 11 is a side view of a container filled by the material dispensing apparatus of FIG. 5 with the container shown in section to illustrate a typical pattern of the ma terial dispensed.

In general, the nozzle apparatus in accordance with the present invention, contemplates a first nozzle for dispensing or emitting a first material and a second nozzle for dispensing or emitting a second material on the periphery of the first material. The first material may be of any kind which can be dispensed through the nozzle and may be a plurality of materials, such as a mixture of plastic comestibles. In its preferred form, the nozzle apparatus is utilized to dispense a first material comprising a mixture of ice cream and syrup; however, this has been done by way of example and it is contemplated that other types of materials may be used in conjunction with the present invention. The second material is preferably a liquid or semi liquid, for example a syrup, and it is contemplated that the second material be discharged or emitted by the second nozzle onto the surface of the first material. It is also contemplated that the second nozzle have a port or orifice which is substantially smaller than the periphery of the material passing through the first nozzle whereby the second material is dispensed in a stripe on the first material. Means is provided to move the first and second nozzles relative to each other whereby the stripe of second material is dispensed in a generally oblique pattern. As used herein, the term syrup comprises liquids or semiliquids at normal room temperature which may include solid materials such as nuts, fruits, candies and the like.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. FIG. 1 illustrates a nozzle apparatus, generally designated by the figure 15, mounted on a container filling machine 16. One suitable filling machine is disclosed in detail in Patent No. 2,765,601 issued to Ralph F. Andreson. In general, the filling machine disclosed in the aforementioned patent includes an ice cream dispensing apparatus 17 which is adapted to measure a predetermined quantity of the material supplied thereto and to dispense the same into containers 18 which are presented thereto by a conveyor 19. The filling machine also includes a syrup dispenser 20 which has been modified to dispense a predetermined amount of syrup simultaneously with the ice cream dispenser 17 and feed the same into the nozzle apparatus 15 by means of conduit 21, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. The dispensing mechanism 17 includes a measuring chamber 22 and a valve assembly 24. As described in the aforementioned patent, the valve assembly 24 comprises a valve body 26, a cylindrical discharge element 28, and a cylindrical by-pass valve element 29, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, which operates to control the flow of material for measuring and for discharge.

Valve element 28 is provided with a segmented slot 34 which, in a fill position (not shown) passes material from inlet connection 36 through the inlet passage 38, segmental slot 34 and passage 39 to the measuring chamber 22. In such a fill position, wherein the segmental slot 34 is in a substantially horizontal position, the segmental slot also communicates with a passage 48 that communicates with the by-pass valve element 29. Valve element 28 is rotatable through substantially 90 to a dispense position such as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the valve element closes the inlet passage 38 and connects the measuring chamber 22 with a discharge passage 42 to dispense material from the measuring chamber. Material is intermittently dispensed from the measuring chamber 22 in response to actuation of a switch 43 by extension of piston rod 44 attached to a piston in the measuring chamber when the latter is filled. The switch operates a drive mechanism (not shown) which reciprocates the arm 44 and slide 41 to drive the piston in the measuring chamber downward in a dispensing stroke, and which drive mechanism also moves the valve 28 to the dispense position. A container detector in the form of an engaging finger 30 detects the presence of a container 18 at the filling station and controls operation of the valves 28 and 29 to bypass the material from the measuring chamber 22 in the absence of a container. The container detector also controls a syrup valve (not shown) to open the same only if a container is in filling position at the nozzle. More exact descriptions of all the above elements and their functions are given in the aforementioned patent to Ralph F. Anderson and further description herein is deemed unnecessary.

The nozzle apparatus is disposed beneath the discharge passage 42 and may be attached to the valve body by any convenient means which will allOW convenient removal of the nozzle apparatus for cleaning and maintenance and, as herein shown, this attachment is accompanied by means of fasteners such as bolts 45 and 45 which extend through holes 46 and 46' respectively (FIG. 3). Nozzle apparatus 15 includes a first nozzle means and a second nozzle means. In the embodiment illustrated, the first nozzle means is a stationary nozzle 50 and second nozzle means is a rotary nozzle 51. As best seen in FIG. 2, stationary nozzle 50 includes a lower member and an upper member 56. These two members have a throat 52 which is substantially coaxial with discharge passage 42 and terminates in a substantially circular downwardly facing discharge opening 53. A material feed means shown in the form of a duct 58 extends into the general area of throat 52 and has a downwardly facing orifice 59 substantially centered on throat 52. Duct 58 is communicated with syrup conduit 21 by means of passage 60 in valve body 26. In this manner, a second material, such as syrup, may be fed into the center of the throat 52 as illustrated in the dashed lines in FIG. 2. When a first material, such as ice cream, is dispensed through discharge passage 42 and throat 52, and syrup is fed through orifice 59 and duct 58, a stream of material dispensed from discharge opening 53 will be a combination of the aforementioned materials.

Interposed between the upper and lower members of stationary nozzle 50, is rotary nozzle 51 having a generally smooth inner wall 64 substantially concentric with throat 52. Thus, rotary nozzle 51 includes an annular member extending around the stream of material dispensed. O-rings 73 and 74 are interposed between the rotary nozzle and upper member 56 and lower member 55 respectively to provide a seal and thereby retain the stream of material in the throat 52. A plurality of ports 65 are arranged in the inner wall 64 and ducts such as 66 connect the ports with a generally circular channel 67 in lower member 55. Syrup is retained in the channel by the aforementioned O-ring 74 and O-ring 75 between the rotary nozzle and the lower member. Channel 67 is connected to syrup conduit 21 by means of passages 60, 68

and 69. Passage 68, which extends through lower member 55 and valve body 26, conveniently has an O-ring 76 to provide a seal at the junction of the two parts. Syrup may thus be fed to ports 65 and dispensed therethrough. The ports have a size substantially smaller than the size of the stream of material thereby dispensing the syrup in a stripe on the surface of the stream of material. Means is provided for feeding the syrup to the ports and for dispensing the same therethrough and, as illustrated, this function is performed by syrup dispenser 20. It is contemplated that means he provided for moving the rotary nozzle 51 thereby moving the ports 64 along the periphery of the stream in a direction crosswise of the direction of fiow to deposit the stripes in an oblique pattern on the surface thereof. In this manner, the stripe will be prominent in generally transparent container 18 as shown by stripe S in FIG. 2. In the embodiment illustrated, gear means, such as worm gear 70 on drive shaft 72 is provided for this purpose. Accordingly, rotary member 51 has a geared outer edge 71 to be driven by worm gear 70. A motor (not shown) is operatively connected to the shaft 72 to drive the rotary nozzle member. Since material dispensing apparatus 16 is an intermittent discharge type machine, it is contemplated that the syrup dispensed through ports 64 and orifice 59 also be intermittently discharged substantially simultaneously with the discharge of material through discharge passage 42 as disclosed in the aforementioned patent. However, it is contemplated that an additional quantity of syrup could be dispensed on top of the material contained in container 18 to conveniently provide a topping, if desired.

Another embodiment, one suitable for a continuous dispensing of material, is illustrated in FIGS. 5-11. FIG. 5 illustrates a nozzle apparatus, generally designated by the figure 80 rigidly mounted on a material dispensing apparatus 81 as by an arm 82 and a column 83. One suitable dispensing apparatus is disclosed in more detail in Patent No. 3,124,916 issued to Ralph F. Anderson and Robert P. Sorensen. In general, the material dispensing apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned patent includes a conduit 84 for feeding a plastic material to a nozzle apparatus. The containers 18 are elevated into telescoping relationship with the nozzle apparatus 80 by a container elevating apparatus 86 and are supported by a support apparatus 87 during filling of the containers 18. The containers are conveniently advanced onto the elevating apparatus 86 by means of an inlet conveyor 88 and removed from the area beneath the nozzle apparatus after filling by means of a container engaging arm 89 which moves the containers 18 onto a second conveyor 90. More exact descriptions of the above listed elements and their functions are given in the aforementinoed patent to Ralph F. Anderson and Robert P. Sorensen and further description herein is deemed unnecessary. It should be understood, however, that said filling machine is indicated by way of example and the present invention may be utilized on other such machines without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The aforementioned patent contemplates that the container 18 be elevated into telescoping relationship with the nozzle apparatus and then moved downward under the weight of the material dispensed and the pressure on the stream from the nozzle apparatus. When the container 18 is filled, the mouth of the container is disposed adjacent the lower end of the nozzle and the container is then moved crosswise of the nozzle to shear the material in the container from the stream of material in the nozzle apparatus. In this manner, a continuous stream of material from the nozzle apparatus can be utilized since a second container will have been moved into position on a container elevating platform of the container elevating apparatus 86.

Nozzle apparatus 80 comprises a first nozzle means and a second nozzle means. In the embodiment illustrated, the first nozzle means is a stationary nozzle 91 and second nozzle means is a rotary nozzle 92. As best seen in FIG. 6, stationary nozzle 91 includes a generally upright stationary inner member 93 defining a throat having a downwardly facing circular discharge opening 94 which has a cross section somewhat smaller than the cross section of the container to be filled. A generally upright stationary outer member 95 substantially encircles inner member 93 but is spaced therefrom for purposes which will hereinafter become apparent. Outer member 95 has an outer size generally approximating the inside diameter of the container for generally engaging the same in telescoping relationship as described supra. Outer member 95 has a generally smooth lower edge 96 disposed at a level somewhat below the discharge opening 94 to provide a substantially smooth stationary shear edge to shear the material in the container from the stream of mate rial being dispensed from the nozzle apparatus.

Interposed between inner member 93 and outer member 95 is rotary nozzle 92 which includes an annular member 125 extending around the stream of material dispensed. A plurality of ports 126 are arranged in the annular member for discharging a quantity of a second material onto the periphery of the stream of material. Each port includes a protuberance 127 extending in an inwardly direction toward the flow of material being dispensed. Ducts such as 123 communicate with the ports 126 and with a generally circular channel 130 in the annular member. Channel 130 is connected to conduit 132 to receive a quantity of the second material, such as syrup, therethrough. In this manner, syrup is fed to ports 126 and dispensed therethrough. The ports have a size substantially smaller than the size of the stream of material and thereby dispense the syrup in a stripe on the surface of the stream of material. It is contemplated that means be provided for moving the rotary nozzle 92 thereby moving the ports 126 crosswise of the stream of material and depositing the stripes in an oblique pattern on the surface thereof. In this manner, the stripe will be prominent in container 18 as shown at S in FIG. 11.

In the embodiment illustrated, the means for moving is in the form of motor 140 which drives rotary member 92 through belt 139, pulley 138, shaft 136, and gear 134 which communicates with geared outer edge 133 of the rotary member.

Rotary member 92, inner member 93 and outer member 95 are mounted adjacent the lower end of an expansion chamber which receives a first material such as ice cream, through duct 84 as hereinbefo-re described. The expansion chamber has a cross sectional area which is large as compared to the flow area of duct 84 and functions to accumulate the material and reduce the velocity at which the material emerges from the nozzle. In the embodiment illustrated, the expansion chamber includes upper member 120 and lower member 122 which are fastened together as by bolts 123 extending into holes 123'. Rotary member 92, inner mmebr 93 and outer member 95 are detachably mounted on the lower end of lower member 122 as by bolts 118 extending into holes 119 (FIG. 7). O-rings 131 and 131 are interposed between rotary member 92 and lower member 122 and located on either side of channel 130 to provide a seal therefor. It is deemed obvious that these parts may be readily removed for cleaning and maintenance. In its preferred form for use with semi-fiiud or plastic comestibles, lower member 122 is inwardly inclined at the lower portion thereof and communicates with the throat defined by inner member 93, as best seen in FIG. 6. In this manner, a restriction is provided which serves to retain the material in a continuous stream as when one container 18 is being removed and a second one being brought into position from underneath. Thus, the particular shape serves to keep a portion of the flow of material from breaking off during this period of the operation It should be noted that this is particularly advantageous when the nozzle apparatus is being utilized in an operation requir- 6 ing continuous flow of material. It should be understood, however, that the apparatus shown is not limited to this type operation.

In the embodiment illustrated, conduit 84 feeds the first material into the inlet of a T-shaped fitting 99. Fitting 99 is conveniently detachably connected to upper member 120 of the expansion chamber by a coupling 121, as best seen in FIG. 6. A second material is advantageously introduced into the first material and for this purpose, a conduit 102 is mounted on the fitting 99 and extends generally into the center of the chamber formed by the T- shaped fitting. Conduit 102 has an inlet 100 attached to a conduit 103 (FIG. 5) to receive the second material. Adjacent the lower end of conduit 102 are a plurality of orifices 105-112, as best seen in FIGS. '8 and 10, which open at points spaced inwardly from the walls of the chamber in the T-shaped fitting. In this manner, the second material, such as a syrup, may be injected into the body of the first material which is being fed through conduit 100. Adjacent the lower end of the conduit 102 is a paddle 113 affixed thereto by a bayonet-type coupling comprising a pin 114 on paddle shank 116 and an inverted J-slot 115 on conduit 102. Adjacent the upper end of the shank 116 is provision for an O-ring 117 to provide a closure for the end of conduit 102 and thus force the second material through the orifices previously described. Referring now to FIG. 9, it can be seen that the body of the paddle 113 is twisted or inclined through 90", or generally auger shaped, for the purpose of turning the flow of composite material, as ice cream and syrup, to provide a swirl of the syrup in the ice cream as shown at T in FIG. 11. In addition, the orifices 105-112 are conveniently arranged to direct the stream of syrup somewhat tangentially of the flow in the T-fitting 99 to enhance the swirling of the syrup in the ice cream.

It is now deemed obvious that the first nozzle means may be utilized for discharging a flow of material which may be a composite of several materials, that the second nozzle means may be utilized for dispensing a stripe of a second material onto the stream of the material being dispensed, and that the first and second. nozzle means may be moved relative to each other to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique pattern.

The hereinbefore described rotary nozzle 51 (FIG. 2) of one embodiment, and rotary nozzle 92 (FIG. 6) of the other embodiment are preferably constructed of plastic material. The use of plastic has obvious advantages in manufacturing such as in shaping and joining parts together. Additionally, when the nozzle apparatus is used with a material which requires refrigeration, such as ice cream, the insulation quality of plastic protects the second material, such as syrup, from being chilled as it flows through the duct work in the rotary nozzle and thereby prevents coagulation of the syrup in the duct work.

While I have thus illustrated two preferred embodiments of my invention, this has been done by way of illustration to indicate the scope thereof and should not be construed as a limitation thereon. I do not wish to be limited except as required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a material dispensing apparatus, the combination of a first nozzle means having a discharge opening for emitting a stream of plastic material, first material feed means for dispensing said plastic material through said discharge opening, second nozzle means having at least one port adjacent the periphery of said stream of plastic material, second material feed means for dispensing a second material through said port and depositing the same in a stripe on the surface of the stream of plastic material,

means for moving said port along the periphery of said stream of plastic material in a direction crosswise of the direction of flow of said stream to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique pattern, and said first and second material feed means each including means for intermittently actuating the same for dispensing discrete charges of said plastic material and said second material respectively.

2. In an apparatus for dispensing a stream of material comprising a plastic comestible and a syrup, the combination of a first nozzle means having a downwardly facing discharge opening for emitting said stream of material, first material feed means for supplying the plastic comestible to said first nozzle means, second material feed means for injecting said syrup into said plastic comestible, said second material feed means including at least one orifice located within the path of supply of the plastic comestible, means for dispensing said stream of material through the discharge opening, an arcuate rotary nozzle means encompassing said stream of material and having at least one port adjacent the periphery of the stream of material, means for feeding a supply of syrup to the rotary nozzle and for dispensing the syrup through the port to deposit a stripe of syrup on the surface of the stream of material, and means mounting said rotary nozzle for rotation about an axis generally paralleling said stream of material whereby said port rotates adjacent the periphery of the stream of material to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique pattern.

3. A nozzle apparatus for use on a container filling machine for dispensing a striped stream of material consisting of a plastic comestible and a syrup, said apparatus comprising a first nozzle means including a generally upright stationary inner member defining a throat having a substantially circular downwardly facing discharge opening having a size less than the container to be filled, a generally upright stationary outer member extending around said inner member and spaced therefrom, said outer member having an outer size approximating the size of said container for generally engaging the same and having a generally smooth lower edge disposed at a level below said discharge opening for providing a strike-off to shear the material in the container from the stream of material as the container is moved crosswise of the nozzle apparatus, duct means located at a level above said discharge opening and including a plurality of orifices for injecting a quantity of syrup into said stream of material adjacent the center thereof, a rotary nozzle means mounted between said inner and outer members and including an annular member extending around said inner member, a plurality of ports in said annular member and each port including a protuberance extending in an inwardly direction and disposed at a level below said discharge opening and above said lower edge of the outer member, each said protuberance having an orifice and means communicating with each said orifice for guiding syrup thereto, means for feeding the syrup to the ports and for dispensing the same therethrough to deposit the syrup in a plurality of stripes on the surface of said stream of material, gear means on said annular member and drive means communicating therewith for rotating said annular member to deposit the stripes in a generally oblique pattern.

4. In a filling apparatus for filling containers with at least two comestibles, and including a filling station and conveyor means for advancing the containers to the filling station, the improvement comprising: first nozzle means at the filing station and having a rotationally fixed downwardly facing discharge opening for emitting a nonrotating stream of a plastic comestible material, first feed means for dispensing the stream through the discharge opening and into the container in a non-rotating manner, second nozzle means at the filling station mounted for movement relative to the first nozzle means and having at least one port adjacent the discharge opening and at the periphery of said stream, second feed means for dispensing a second comestible material through said port and depositing the same in a stripe on the surface of said stream, and means for moving said second nozzle means relative to said first nozzle means to move said port along the periphery of said stream in a direction crosswise of the direction of flow of the stream to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique pattern, whereby the container is filled by a non-rotating stream of plastic comestible material having an oblique stripe of a second comestible ma terial thereon.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said first and second feed means each includes means for intermittently actuating the same for dispensing discrete charges of said comestibles.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said first and second feed means are operative to continuously dispense said comestibles.

'7. In an apparatus for filling containers and including a filling station and conveyor means for advancing the containers to the filling station, the improvement comprising: a stationary nozzle at the filling station and having a downwardly facing discharge opening for emitting a downwardly flowing stream therefrom and into the container, first feed means for supplying a first plastic comestible to the stationary nozzle and second feed means for supplying a second plastic comestible to the stationary nozzle whereby the stream comprises said first and second plastic comestibles, a movable nozzle mounted for movement relative to the stationary nozzle and having at least one port adjacent the periphery of said stream, means for feeding a supply of said second plastic comestible to the movable nozzle and for dispensing the same through the port and in a stripe on the surface of the stream, and means for moving said movable nozzle relative to the stationary nozzle to move the port along the periphery of the stream in a direction crosswise of the direction of flow of the stream to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique patern, whereby the container is filled by the stream of said first and second plastic comestibles having an oblique stripe of the second plastic comestible thereon.

8. In an apparatus for filling open-topped containers with a stream of an ice cream and a syrup, and including a filling station and conveyor means for advancing the containers to the filling station, the improvement comprising: a first nozzle at the filling station and having a rotationally fixed downwardly facing discharge opening for emitting said stream into the containers, first feed means for supplying the ice cream to the first nozzle, second feed means for injecting the syrup into the ice cream internally of the periphery of the stream so that the syrup is substantially encased in the ice cream, means for dispensing the stream through the discharge opening, a second nozzle encompassing said stream and mounted for rotary movement relative to said first nozzle and having at least one inwardly facing discharge port for emitting an additional supply of syrup onto the surface of the stream, means for feeding a supply of syrup to the second nozzle and for dispensing the syrup through the port and depositing the same in a stripe on the surface of the stream, and means for rotatively moving the second nozzle and the port relative to the first nozzle and along the periphery of the stream in a direction crosswise of the direction of flow of said stream to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique pattern.

9. In an apparatus for filling open-topped containers with a striped stream of comestible, and including a filling station and conveyor means for successively advancing the containers to the filling station, the improvement comprising: first nozzle means at the filling station and having a rotationally fixed throat terminating in a downwardly facing discharge opening, first feed means connected to the first nozzle means for passing a stream of a first comestible through the throat and into a container, second nozzle means encompassing the stream of first comestible and having at least one port adjacent the periphery of the stream, second feed means connected to the second nozzle means for feeding a supply of a second comestible through said port to deposit a stripe thereof on the surface of the stream of first comestible, means mounting the first and second nozzle means for rotation relative to the first nozzle means about a generally upright axis, and power operated means for rotating said second nozzle means relative to said first nozzle means and thereby moving the port relative to the throat and discharge opening to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique pattern.

10. In an apparatus for filling open-topped containers with a striped stream of comestible, and including a filling station and conveyor means for successively advancing the containers to the filling station, the improvement comprising: a stationary nozzle at the filling station and having means defining a throat terminating in a generally circular downwardly facing discharge opening smaller than the open top of the container, first feed means connected to the stationary nozzle for passing a nonrotating stream of a first comestible through the throat and into a container, rotary nozzle means including an annular member extending around the stream, said annular member having at least one inwardly-facing port substantially smaller than the discharge opening and at least a portion surrounding the port engaging the stream, second feed means connected to the rotary nozzle means for feeding a supply of a second comestible through said port to deposit a stripe thereof on the surface of the stream, means mounting said rotary nozzle means for rotation about an axis generally paralleling said stream, and means for rotating said rotary nozzle means relative to said stationary nozzle to deposit the stripe in a generally helical pattern, whereby the container is filled by a stripped stream of comestible.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the annular member has a generally smooth inner wall, and an inwardly-facing protuberance on the inner wall for engaging the stream and wherein the port is located in said protuberance.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein the annular member has a generally smooth inner wall adjacent said discharge opening and coextensive with only a portion of said throat, and wherein the port terminates at the inner Wall.

13. The combination of claim 10 wherein said second feed means includes means for intermittently actuating the same for dispensing discrete charges of said second comestible.

14. The combination of claim 10 wherein said second feed means is operative to continuously dispense said second comestible through said port.

15. In an apparatus for filling open-topped containers with a striped stream of comestible and including a filling station and conveyor means for advancing the containers to the filling station, the improvement comprising: a rotationally fixed first nozzle means defining a generally circular downwardly facing discharge opening for emitting said stream, means for feeding a first comestible to said first nozzle means for flow through said discharge opening and into the container in a non-rotating manner, a rotary nozzle means including an annular member made of plastic and extending around the flow of first comestible and having a generally smooth inner wall closely adjacent thereto, means for mounting said rotary nozzle means for rotation relative to said first nozzle means with the annular member adjacent the discharge opening and for convenient removal of said rotary nozzle means for cleaning purposes, said inner wall having at least one port therein, a duct in the annular member communicating with said port, means for feeding a second comestible to the duct and dispensing the same through the port to deposit the second comestible in a stripe on the surface of said stream of material, and means for rotating said rotary nozzle means about an axis generally paralleling said stream to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique pattern.

16. In an apparatus for filling open-topped containers with a striped stream of comestible and including a filling station and conveyor means for advancing the containers to the filling station, the improvement comprising: a generally upright stationary nozzle defining a throat having a substantially circular downwardly facing discharge opening for emitting said stream, means for feeding a first comestible to said stationary nozzle and passing the same through said throat, duct means extending into said throat and having a size substantially less than the throat, said duct means including a downwardly facing orifice located generally at the center of said throat for injecting a quantity of a second comestible into the center of said first comestible, a rotary nozzle means mounted for relative rotation on said stationary nozzle means above said discharge opening, said rotary nozzle including an annular member extending around said stream and having a generally smooth inner wall substantially concentric with said throat, a plurality of ports in said inner wall, means for feeding an additional supply of said second comestible to the ports and for dispensing the same therethrough to deposit the second comestible in a plurality of stripes on the surface of said stream, gear means on said annular member and drive means communicating with said gear means for rotating said rotary nozzle means to deposit the stripes in a generally oblique pattern.

17. In a container filling machine having a measuring chamber, means for admitting a first material under pressure to said chamber, a rotationally fixed first nozzle having a downwardly facing discharge opening, and actuator means for discharging the first material. from said chamber in said stream through a discharge opening, the improvement comprising: a movable nozzle means mounted for movement relative to said first nozzle adjacent said discharge opening and having a port therein substantially smaller than said discharge opening and adjacent said stream, feed means for supplying a quantity of a second material to said port and discharging the same in a stripe on the surface of said stream, means for moving said movable nozzle means relative to said first nozzle to move said port along the periphery of the stream in a direction generally crosswise of the flow of said stream to deposit the stripe in a generally oblique pattern, and means for intermittently operating the feed means for discharge of the second material when the actuator means discharges the first material.

18. The combination of claim 17 including means located between the measuring chamber and the discharge opening for injecting an additional quantity of said second material inwardly of said stream so that the first material substantially surrounds said additional quantity of second material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,191,829 2/1940 Johnson 18-l3 3,220,445 11/1965 Taisey 141-270 X 3,267,971 8/ 1966 Mueller 141-270 X FOREIGN PATENTS 626,945 7/ 1949 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. J. SHEA, H. S. BELL, Examiners,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,347,287 October 17, 1967 Eugene E. Geber It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8, line 30, for "patern" read pattern column 9, line 28, for "stripped" read striped line 32, for "stream" read stream, column 10, line 35, for "in said stream through a discharge opening" read in a stream through said discharge opening Signed and sealed this 5th day of November 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, 11'. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A MATERIAL DISPENSING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION OF A FIRST NOZZLE MEANS HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING FOR EMITTING A STREAM OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, FIRST MATERIAL FEED MEANS FOR DISPENSING SAID PLASTIC MATERIAL THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, SECOND NOZZLE MEANS HAVING AT LEAST ONE PORT ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID STREAM OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, SECOND MATERIAL FEED MEANS FOR DISPENSING A SECOND MATERIAL THROUGH SAID PORT AND DEPOSITING THE SAME IN A STRIPE ON THE SURFACE OF THE STREAM OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PORT ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF SAID STREAM OF PLASTIC MATERIAL IN A DIRECTION CROSSWISE OF THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF SAID STREAM TO DEPOSIT THE STRIPE IN A GENERALLY OBLIQUE PATTERN AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND MATERIAL FEED MEANS EACH INCLUDING MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ACTUATING THE SAME FOR DISPENSING DISCRETE CHARGES OF SAID PLASTIC MATERIAL AND SAID SECOND MATERIAL RESPECTIVELY. 